Ellen Cockrum and her daughter, Mae Cockrum Smith, were murdered as they were returning to their home as a severe winter storm was approaching. They had been to Hayney across the White River from where they lived, and they apparently were taking a short cut up a very steep cliff when they were ambushed. When their bodies were found four days later, it was determined that Ellen Cockrum had been shot in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun. Mrs. Cockrum's body was sitting under a ledge of rock, and apparently had been shot from above. Her daughter's body was around 50 yards away, and she had been shot in the back also with a 12-guage shotgun, and was assumed to have been running from the scene when shot.